Nonprofit leverages federal and state programs to cut energy costs and reinvest savings into community services.

HARTFORD, CT – October 13, 2025 – Easterseals Capital Region & Eastern Connecticut, which has been providing services to individuals with disabilities and veterans for years, opened a 218-kilowatt rooftop solar installation at its Deerfield Road facility. The project was financed through innovative state and federal programs and will save the organization an estimated $1.3 million in energy costs over the life of the system. With this investment, Easterseals can further its mission of dedicating resources to underserved community programs.

The solar array, along with energy-efficient improvements to the building, including complicated lighting controls, was featured during an open house on October 8, 2025. The investments in energy-efficient improvements to the buildings were funded with $714,000 of financing made possible by the Connecticut Green Bank’s Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program which enables commercial property owners to obtain lower-cost, longer-term financing for energy improvements.

Direct Pay Tax Credit Expands Solar Access

A significant factor that enabled the project was the direct pay option for the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), a provision of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that allows tax-exempt participants like Easterseals to see benefits upfront for the use of clean energy, sooner than if they had to wait for the tax credits to be applied against taxes owed. Nonprofits were previously unable to assess the benefits of tax credits because they have no tax liability. However, the direct pay path enables nonprofit organizations across the country to access solar energy without having to rely on third party investors.

“We’re thankful for a partnership that has allowed Easterseals to retro-fit our building with solar and smart lighting, which will allow us to operate more efficiently and sustainably,” said Robin Sharp, President and CEO of Easterseals Capital Region & Eastern Connecticut. “The savings and revenue generated will go right back into our services in the community and help us advance our mission.”

The 22,100 square feet facility in Hartford will utilize the solar energy produced at the facility to power programs that provide supports for medical rehabilitation, autism services, workforce development, and adult daycare, to name a few. In addition, Easterseals operates social enterprises, such as EnviroShred, which focuses on the secure destruction of documents while providing employment opportunities for veterans and people with disabilities.

A Framework for Nonprofit Sustainability

The project illustrates how C-PACE financing and federal incentives are also used to cover nonprofit operational costs, some extended environmental benefits, and considerations to the overall sustainable value.

Bryan Garcia, President and CEO of the Connecticut Green Bank, spoke to the larger impact: “Our mission is to support community organizations like Easterseals, so they can implement the long-term solutions that save on energy costs, build their impact, and strengthen the community they serve.”

Since it was founded in 2011 as the nation’s first green bank at the state level, the Connecticut Green Bank has helped create nearly 30,000 green jobs and save energy costs, for over 71,000 families, businesses, and nonprofits in Connecticut.

Overcoming Barriers for Nonprofits

Numerous mission-driven organizations struggle to find the budget to invest in infrastructure upgrades, regardless of obvious long-term savings. By utilizing C-PACE long-term financing combined with the IRA direct pay benefit, Easterseals circumvented any upfront costs and is now on track for long-term financial and operational sustainability.

The installation was performed by Facility Solutions Group, Inc., based in Oxford, and they specialize in commercial energy projects.

Future Implications

The accomplishment of this project offers a model that can be duplicated by other nonprofits and tax-exempt organizations considering renewable energy. As federal clean energy incentives continue to come online, organizations within health care, education, and social services may encounter similar opportunities to reduce their carbon footprints while shifting savings towards programmatic objectives.

Easterseals” sustainability initiative is consistent with their long history of social innovation. EnviroShred and many of its other programs reflect the organization’s long-standing commitment to social empowerment and environmental sustainability.

About Easterseals Capital Region & Eastern Connecticut

Easterseals has been a valuable source of support for people with disabilities, veterans, seniors, and their families for more than 75 years. It delivers medical rehabilitation, vocational training, and autism services, among others, in support of inclusive and empowered communities.

About the Connecticut Green Bank

The Connecticut Green Bank (Green Bank) was created in 2011, to help accelerate the appropriate level of investment in the adoption of green energy through innovative financing and partnerships. It has become a national model for leveraging public and private investment to develop a sustainable, equitable energy future.